Suitcase lock



Aug. 16, 1932. STONE 1,871,759

SUITCASE LOCK Filed May 23, 1931 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT; OFFIC ELMER B. STONE, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOTHE AMERICAN HARD- WARE CORPORATION, NECTICUT OIE NEW BRITAIN,CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- SUITCASE LOCK Application, filed May23, 1931. Serial No. 539,511.

My invention relates todevices for retaining covers of suit cases orother receptacles in closed positions and an object of my invention,among others, is to provide a device of this character that shall besimple in construction as well as simple'and efiective in operation, andone that shall present an extremely sightly appearance.

One form of a suit case lock embodying my invention and in" theconstruction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well asothers, may be attained is illustrated 1n the accompanying drawing, inwhich- Figure 1 is a face view of a suit case lock and hasp embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a edge'view of the same shown as applied to a suit case orsimilar receptacle. V p

Figure 3 is a view in lengthwise sectlon a through my improved lock andhasp.

Figure 4 is a similar view through the lock illustrating the manner ofholding the catch in its retractedposition. V

Figure 5 is a rear face view of the lock and hasp.

' Figure 6 is a view similar to Figurefi but with the hasp. and backplate of the catch and the tumbler removed as denoted by the dotted line66 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a view of a fragment of the lock plate looking from therear.

Figure 8 is a front view illustrating a little diflerentarrangement. r hIn the accompanying drawing the nu- .meral 8 illustrates a suit case and9 the cover thereof which parts may be of any ordinaryand well-knownconstruction. A

hasp plate 10 is secured to the cover in any suitable manner and a hasp11 is pivotally attached to thehasp plate, said hasp having a spring 12for forcing it to an open position. The hasp is preferably of box form,

that is, it is closed in on its front end and end is prod withareleasing lip 13 to be hereinafter referred to. A lock plate 14 issecured to the suit case 8 in any suitable manner, this plate having abounding flange 15 enclosing a space back of the plate and between itand the suitcase.

'vided with flanges that rest against or in of the plate 14. A ribproximity to the face 17 is formed on the end of the catch to provide anoperating thumb or finger piece.

Y A back plate 18 is secured to the catch 16, as by means of lugs 19positioned. between clips 20 projecting from the back or bottomretaining plate 21 is secured to the catch 16 as by meansof holes thatreceive the clips 20 which are bent over to secure the parts inposition, the retaining plate, when the parts are assembled, beinglocated on the opposite side of the lock plate 14 from the back plate18, the parts being secured in such manner as to afiord free slidingaction of the catch and back including the retaining plates relativelyto the lock plate 14. The retaining plate is located inythe space withinthe bounding flange on the lock plate hereinbefore referred to.

The retaining plate 21 has one edge 22 insertable between a catch holder23 and the back of the lock plate 14 when the catch is in its closedposition, the holder 23 being in the form of a spring secured to theback face of the lock plate and having a retaining lip 24 positioned toengage the edge of the retaining plate when the catch is in itsreleasing position thereby to retain the catch disengaged from the hasp.The releasing lip 13 on the hasp hereinbefore referred to is adapted topass through an opening 25 in the lock plate and to engage the holder 23to spring the latter backwardly to release the retaining lip 24 from theedge of the retaining plate 21, and when thus released, the

retaining plate is forced toward the hasp and and movement of said catchin the opposite direction is limited by engagement of the prongs orclips with the edge of the opening 28 in the lock plate.

thumb or finger upon therib 17 the nose 32 will be disengaged from theendof the hasp 11 and the spring 12 will immediately throw the hasp toits open position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.. When the haspis thus moved back the holder 23 springs to a position infront of theretaining plate 21, thereby'holding the catch in its retracted position.WVhen the hasp 11 ispressed into its closed position, as shown in Figure3, the lip 13 on thecatoh engages the holder 23 forcing bacl'rwardly andthereby releasing the retaining plate 21, which being secured to theback plate 18 and the latter being secured to the catch, the latterisforced to its holding position by means of the spring 26 which pressesagainst the plate 18.

In order to lock the catch in its closed position I provide a bolt, 33slidably mounted between. guides '34:. projecting from theret'ainingplate 21, said bolt being located within the opening 28in thelock plateandbeing frictionally held by a: spring 35, a notch 36 in thebolt being engaged with one of the guides 34: and as shown in dottedlines in Figure 5 of the-drawing. An actuating notch 37in a side edge ofthe bolt isaclaptedtobe engaged by the bit of a key inserted. through akey hole 38 in the catch 16 whereby the bolt may be released fromengagement with the guide 34 and moved backwardly. and disengaged fromalocking prong39 extending Ifrom. the front edge of the opening, 28 inthe lock plate 14. When the lock-ing bolt has its end located. oppositethe end of said locking prong the catch. is locked against movement, anda key inserted in. the key hole 38 will .be required .to move the boltto its unlocking position to permit movement of the catch, r

'In the structure shown in Figure 8 the plate 14, the hasp 11 and itssupporting plate are substantially the same as hereinbefore described.with respect to the preceding .figures.the diiierence being that thesliding catch 16 is mounted. to slide vlengzgthwise of the plate 14.instead oficrosswise thereof and said. catch engages a side edge of thehasp 11 instead of the end thereot;

In accordance with the provisions of the patent. statutes I havedescribed the principles of operation of my invention: together with thedevice which I nowconsider. to

will be noted that when represent the best embodiment thereof; but Idesire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative,and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied touses other than those above setout.

Iclaim: V 1 1. A look including a pivotally mounted hasp, a lock plate,a catch slidably mounted on the outer face-of said-plate toengage andhold said haspin its closed position, means attached to the back of saidplateand adaptable for engagement with said catch for retaining it initsdisengaged position, and means on saidhaspt'o engage said retainingmeans through said? plate to releaseit from said catch. a V

. 2.. A lockincluding arlock. plate having an opening-H therein, acatch. slidably engaged with the'outer face ot said plate, a; retainingplate. engaged: with the opposite face. otsaid lockiplate, means;extending; through said lock plate to secure saidcatch and retainingplates together, a hasp engageable with said catch by sliding movementof. thalatter: to secure the hasp inv its closed; position, and meanswithin thBa'CatCllgfOI locking itin its closed-position; I

3. A;,lock.including-a lock plate having an opening; therein, az-catchslidably engaged with oneface of. said: iplate,.apretaining; plateengagedwith the opposite face: ofi said-plate, means extending throughsaid lock plate to secure said catch and: retaining; plates: together,meansito engagesaidz retaining plate to: hold said catch in 'unlocked.position, a hasp;engageable with. said catch toisecure the hasp in itsclosedwposition, and means engage- T able by said 'hasp fonreleasmg-saidretaining plate to permit movement of said catch. 4:. -A lockincluding alock plate having an opening therein, a catch mounted on the rent saidcatch and slidably engaged with the frontface ofisaid lock plate, aretaining plate slidably mounted onthe back faceof said "lock plate,means uniting said catchand retaining plates through saidlock plate,means engaged with said back plate to forcethe face; of said plate,a'back plate secured to with said" catch 'to hol d the hasp" in itsclosed 7 position", andmeans on saidihasp to engage said holder torelease said catch.

5';.A l0ck including ta lock plate having, an

opening therein, acatchhaving; airecess in it's/rear side withlugsprojecting'frOm oppositeedges oii said. recess aback plate extendingacross said recess and havingprojections located-between; said lugs,said back plate. being slidably mounted on the front, face of said. lock plate in retaining P12113211]: slidable contactwith theab'ackfaceofithe locl'i 'plate and secured in lace by said lugs, and apivotally mounted hasp engageable with said catch to secure the hasp inlocked position.

6. A lock including a lock plate having an opening therein, a catchhaving a recess therein, a back plate carried by said catch andextending across said recess in slidable engagement with the front faceof said lock plate, a retaining plate secured tothe catch in slidableengagement with the back face of l the lock plate, locking mechanismincluding a locking bolt mounted in the opening in the lock plate andbetween said back and retaining plates, and a hasp engageable with saidcatch to hold the hasp in its locked position.

ELMER B. STONE.

